# Accident 20090101002029A: Lantza LANCAIR360, Joliet, IL, January 1, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 2009, 20:48 local time
- Place: Joliet, IL
- Airport: Joliet Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5183° N, 88.1814° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5183&lon=-88.1814&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3603R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3603R-2013-08-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lantzair Flyers LANCAIR 360 (registry code 05620FF, https://openairdocs.org/model/lantzair-flyers-lancair-360) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LANTZA LANCAIR360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,060 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09FA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090101002029A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JANUARY 1, 2009 AT 2048 CST, N3603R A LANCAIR 360 DEPARTED RUNWAY 12 AT JOLIET REGIONAL AIRPORT, JOLIET, ILLINOIS (KJOT).  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PILOTING THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT FROM THE LEFT SEAT AND ONE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT.  THE FOLLOWING WEATHER WAS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE: WINDS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS, CEILINGS BROKEN AT 9000 FEET, 10 STATUTE MILES OF VISIBILITY, AND TEMPERATURE -1 DEGREE C WITH A DEW POINT OF -4 DEGREES.  SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, N3603R VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED THE SURFACE WITH THE LEFT WING AND THEN FLIPPED ONTO ITS BACK AND SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET TOWARD THE EAST.  FIRE IMMEDIATELY ERUPTED UPON THE FIRST IMPACT.  THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE COMPUTATIONS FIGURED BY THIS OFFICE INDICATE N3603R TOOK OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 1849 POUNDS WITH A CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG) OF 66.4 INCHES.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH), THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT IS 1800 LB., SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE BECOMES UNACCEPTABLE SINCE STALL SPEEDS ARE HIGH."  THE POH FURTHER STATES, "NOTE THAT AS WEIGHT IS INCREASED, THE CG MOVES AFT, ESPECIALLY IF HEAVY ITEMS ARE PLACED IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENTS.  THE CG LIMITS ARE BASED ON PITCH STABILITY AND CONTROL.  AS THE CG MOVES AFT PITCH STABILITY DECREASES.  BEYOND THE AFT LIMIT, PITCH CONTROL IS UNACCEPTABLE (SLIGHT STICK INPUTS RESULT IN LARGE PITCH CHANGES)."  AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 CST ON JANUARY 1, 2009 IS WHEN N3603R HAD ARRIVED AT KJOT.  ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT HAD LANDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER N3603R COMMENTED THAT AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR ON THE GROUND HIS AIRCRAFT'S WINGS FORMED FROST ON THE SURFACE.  IT IS UNKNOWN IF N3603R TOOK OFF WITH FROST ADHERING TO ITS WINGS, AFTER BEING ON THE GROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN09FA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA111), Jan 2, 2009: Lantzair Flyers Lancair 360 (N3603R), Joliet, IL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate flying speed during the night takeoff for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control

## Other reports on N3603R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19940311005019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940311005019A), Mar 11, 1994: Amtr LANCAIR (N3603R), Waukesha, WI, Substantial damage. Bounced landing nose high. Came down tail first. Lost control ran off runway. Impact broke rudder attach bolts.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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